A Perfect Past - The 1880s Enigma

The “Enigma” racquet can be placed in the 1880s and has survived in unused condition. The frame shows a flat upper line, a head form that appeared frequently in this decade. Contemporary makers worked with controlled steam bending and kept the top section straight to avoid irregular tension in the wood. The head shape reflects the technical limits and workshop routines of the period.

Portrait Position

Late nineteenth century racquet construction relied on consistent shaping and light wooden profiles. Makers often used ash and comparable hardwoods that produced uniform behavior during bending and finishing. These woods allowed workshops to keep weight and balance within a narrow range, which suited the playing style of lawn tennis in its early phase.

Period imagery situates flat-top frames in a broader sporting landscape. Lawn tennis expanded through clubs, private courts, public demonstrations, and exhibitions. Racquets of this type appear in catalogues, trade cards, and early photographic material, which confirms their widespread presence in the 1880s.

Lawn Tennis Player in 1880s

Surviving examples from collections and early equipment catalogues indicate that frames of this pattern were offered by several British makers throughout the decade. Listings in firms’ price sheets show similar head outlines, comparable handle lengths, and lightweight specifications. The “Enigma” aligns with these documented production standards and illustrates the equipment range available to players in the formative years of lawn tennis.

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About the Author:

Andreas Fixemer

Berlin Tennis Gallery

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